How often do you stop and do nothing? In a society that is so switched on and constantly moving, this can actually be really difficult. Often we think that we are resting when the truth is we are actually still doing activities that are potentially energy draining. I can be so guilty of this. Having this blog means I have a few different social media accounts and instead of allowing my brain and body the time it needs to rest, I’ll find myself browsing Twitter or Instagram instead.
Mental fatigue is just as draining as physical fatigue and there is a lot to be said for switching off. Activities that require a lot of focus and concentration can leave you feeling wiped out. Doing nothing is so valuable when you have a chronic illness– it’s important to look after the body as well as the mind.
I recently read an article written by Julie Holliday on Prohealth discussing the underlying keys to recovery. It listed the commonalities between people who have recovered and acted as a gentle reminder that I have some bad habits I need to change.
Take Time Out Everyday To Be Calm
I know, from reading people’s stories myself, that the people who recover from chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia follow regular practises that promote calmness. It’s an area that I know I need to work on as it’s one that has slipped a bit for me. I previously tried guided meditation and decided it was not for me. Instead, I focussed on deep breathing and, at one point, EFT but recently I haven’t been practising them as often as I should. During one of my health coaching sessions with Courtney of Vital Plan (more on that in a future post) I was challenged on why I don’t like meditation.
On thinking about it, my reasons were pretty superficial– it was as simple as not liking the tone of voice people typically use. But I decided it was worth looking into again as perhaps I just hadn’t found the right one for me. My interview with Faye pointed me in the direction of an app called Headspace and I decided to give it a go.
A Positive Change To My Morning Routine
It can take me a bit of time to get going in the morning. I normally need to give myself a bit of time before I get out of bed these days. However, I was using my time poorly. Pretty much as soon as I woke up I would grab my phone and check my social media accounts for the blog and then check my emails– I was immediately switching my brain on.
I knew this was wrong and now I am determined to change that bad habit and replace it with a good one. Each morning when I wake up I am now using the Headspace app and doing 10 minutes of guided meditation. I then follow this with stretches in bed as usual or, if I am feeling a bit more able, yoga in bed. What a difference this has made. I am feeling much better mentally for doing this and I feel like I’m doing something good for myself. My limitations are still there but hopefully this will be a positive step towards improving that.
The Benefits To Doing Nothing
Allowing your body and mind to switch off, relax and get the rest it needs can reduce stress and anxiety, reduce brain fog, enhance self-esteem, improve your mood, boost creativity and provide your body with the environment it needs to heal. Exercises such as meditation bring your awareness to your body and mind– they make you realise exactly how you are feeling– and can help you figure out any blocks that may be preventing you from progressing forwards in your recovery. Trust me when I say they will make you feel better overall. It may not be immediate but if you dedicate even just 10 minutes per day, you will start to realise the benefits.
I used to view doing nothing as wasted time but now I appreciate that I am empowering myself to feel better.
Are there any self-care practises that you have been slacking on recently or is there anything about your day that you could change for the better?
I have a real hard time doing nothing. I am guilty of doing the same things you are…shutting down the mental activity. I keep telling myself I am going to try meditation, but I haven’t. So I am going to take your advise and start with 10 minutes a day.
I would recommend trying the “Take 10” on the Headspace app. I’ve taken the plunge and purchased a year’s subscription as it’s something I feel I need to commit to doing
My husband and I both have jobs that are mentally exhausting. No, we aren’t out there physically working off our butts, but mentally we are draining ourselves. This past weekend we switched off many of our electronic devices and spent the weekend with family and vegging out. It was rejuvenating and refreshing! I’m going to start spending more of my time away from social media and my blog in order to achieve a healthier balance.
I hope you sure this post at Chronic Friday Linkup! These are great tips for all spoonies. The linkup closes Wednesday at midnight.
It’s amazing how draining mental activities can be. That’s great you had such a chilled weekend. I’m trying to take a step back too, using scheduling more for social media etc. as it definitely impacts on my health. Thanks!
What a great reminder. I always feel guilty when I’m doing “nothing” because I know I have a long list of other things I should be doing. I love the idea of being empowering myself with that time!
I think when it comes to chronic illness, it is all about priorities. To me, switching off both body and mind and getting quality rest is an absolute priority now 🙂 I can empathise with the feelings of guilt though as it has taken me a long time to realise the benefit of doing “nothing”.
Thank you for linking up at Chronic Friday Linkup! Pinned your post to the Chronic Friday Linkup board at http://www.pinterest.com/beingfibromom
I hope to see you at tomorrow’s linkup!
Another great post. Funny how we often think alike and we both did a post based on Julie’s post. As for meditation I’m with you. I have to dig to find ones that I really like but I have found a few.
Thanks Julie. I’ve been finding the more I’ve been doing meditation that it actually wipes me out as much as physical exercise, which seems to bizarre to me! I’m going to be experimenting a little more to see if there is anything that works any better for me
I definitely need to do more nothing. My husband has insisted I put down the computer more often. But I still sometimes end up on the iPad, even when we’re watching TV. I try to do just the one thing, and then put it back down.
Usually, I find my nothing time when I lie down for a nap. At least three times a week I’m tired enough to lie down once I get the first batch of work done (and my blog dealt with and my blog stats obsessively checked). Most of the time, I can’t actually sleep. I have trouble switching off my brain.
But I do find the time restorative because I’m lying down, thereby resting all of my muscles, and not thinking about any one thing. Usually, despite grumbling about not being able to actually sleep, I get up 30ish minutes later feeling better.
It’s really easy to grab you phone or ipad and start browsing isn’t it? Switching off the brain is a difficult task. I’m like you, even lying down (without taking a nap) is very helpful to me.
You’ve hit on a peculiarly modern malady: The inability to disconnect. As seattlegirluw notes, it’s hard to switch off our brains even if we’ve stepped away (temporarily) from all the screens.
Since seattlegirluw is my daughter, I know how hard she works despite her chronic fatigue. Thus I wish that she could wander away more. Then again, she had workaholic me as an example growing up, sigh, regret.
As a full-time freelancer I find it hard to push back from the desk. What if I miss an opportunity? What if I miss an editing note?
Yeah, but what if I miss out on my LIFE? What then?
In a post on my personal website, “The opposite of obligation,” I talked about the idea of a “Sabbath” not in a religious sense but as in “a day of rest.” A chance to recharge. A dozen hours of peace. The opposite of obligation. It’s something my partner and I should do every week (or, ideally, part of every day) but so seldom are able to make it a priority.
Our work days bleed over into our weekends. I know we’re not the only ones to whom this happens. Saturday and Sunday are the days into which you cram everything you couldn’t finish – or even start – during the week. So when do we rest? We don’t.
Now that I’m in my 50s I’m increasingly aware that the quality of our days matters as much (maybe more) than the quantity. Yet it’s tough to let go of old habits, especially when we fear it will affect our ability to make a living.
If it’s kosher to post URLs, here goes:
http://donnafreedman.com/2013/08/13/the-opposite-of-obligation/
You are so right, it is very hard to step away and switch off. I like that idea of a day to prioritise resting. I think when you work for yourself it’s hard to give yourself set working hours and it’s easy to keep going. I will check out you post, thanks for sharing 🙂
Donna this post came up at the right time for me! I used to meditate regularly but with the stress of hospital appointments, tests, reading about medical stuff, trying to figure it all out… I haven’t been resting my brain at all and it’s affecting me a lot! Also if you get a Years membership with Anxiety UK which costs £30, you can get the Headspace app for free for a year (which usually costs £95). That’s what I’ve been doing for the past 2 years 🙂
Hey, Rosa! I can totally understand, things start to slip when you have a lot on. Hopefully getting back into your routine will help you 🙂 Oh, and thanks for the tip! I had no idea about that.